The present study investigates the psychological factors affecting the public’s attitudes towards social workers. The study was based on the theory of human values and aimed to investigate the role of personal motivational goals reflected in values on attitudes towards social workers. In addition, we tested the contact hypothesis in the context of social work. The study was conducted in Israel using a stratified representative sample that included individuals who had no contact with social workers during the last 3 years (n = 303) and those with such contact (n = 220). In the inexperienced population, values affected the perception of social workers indirectly through the opinions of others. In the experienced population, personal experience with social workers affected their perception and support of their struggle. Finally, a higher preference for self-transcendence vs. self-enhancement values was associated with stronger support of the social workers’ struggle to improve their working conditions in both the experienced and inexperienced populations. The results of the present study advance the theory of human values and the contact hypothesis in the context of social work. In addition, they have important implications for social work practice, permitting social workers to understand their clients better.

中文翻译：

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公众对社会工作者的态度：价值观、他人意见和个人经历的作用

本研究调查影响公众对社会工作者态度的心理因素。该研究以人类价值观理论为基础，旨在探讨价值观所反映的个人动机目标对社会工作者态度的作用。此外，我们在社会工作背景下测试了接触假设。这项研究是在以色列进行的，采用分层代表性样本，其中包括过去 3 年内没有与社会工作者接触的个人 (n = 303) 和有过接触的个人 (n = 220)。在缺乏经验的人群中，价值观通过他人的意见间接影响社会工作者的看法。在有经验的人群中，与社会工作者的个人经历影响了他们对斗争的看法和支持。最后，对自我超越与自我增强价值观的更高偏好与对社会工作者改善有经验和无经验人群工作条件的斗争的更有力支持有关。本研究的结果推进了社会工作背景下的人类价值理论和接触假说。此外，它们对社会工作实践具有重要影响，使社会工作者能够更好地了解他们的案主。